Take the time to step back, reflect on the reality of who you really are and how it affects those you work with.
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Being a leader is more than just taking charge of your team. It requires one to use critical and creative thinking to achieve a desired goal despite the circumstance. Joseph Logan gave a TED talk about ‘The upside of crisis’. He stated, “Crisis creates change. Change creates choice." With that in mind, the choices we make during a crisis are very crucial. So, what can you learn from the pandemic to better equip you as a leader?
1. Self-awareness
First you need to be self-aware by understanding your strengths, weaknesses and reactions towards people/situations. Take the time to step back, reflect on the reality of who you really are and how it affects those you work with. Doing that improves your character as a person. You become more focused and efficient in decision making.
2. Effective communication
This means that you need to be more cautious on what and how you communicate. You need to be more honest and transparent on the issue at hand. Let the internal and external audiences understand what is happening and how it will affect them. It is advised that you shouldn’t over communicate. Be honest and straight to the point.
3. Empathy
The lockdown and curfews make it hard for most teams to physically come to work. The change of work environment also affects their mental health and stability in their performance. It is important to see it from their perspective and how the crisis affects them. By putting that into consideration, you build on the loyalty and engagement of your team.
4. Adaptability
How do you handle your team and business during a crisis? Leaders need to shift and adjust to the new conditions. You don’t always know everything so be open minded to new strategies. It deepens ones responsiveness and perspective.
5. Creativity
The current situation is stressful and requires a tactical response. However, it has also enabled people to be innovative with the use of technology. Don’t just use the basics but be different. Acquiring this trait develops a strong mindset and continuous learning.
